While the presentation of narcissism can often be difficult to tolerate, and certainly challenging for therapists to work with, the elevated sense of self, characteristic grandiosity, and lack of empathy often disguise the underlying feelings of shame and inadequacy. Making treatment of narcissism even more dicey is the narcissist’s persistent denial of any of these feelings, or any flaws whatsoever. However, without becoming aware of what uncomfortable feelings lay under the surface, the prospects for establishing and maintaining healthy relationships remain very fractured for the narcissist. While this may be a sticking place for many therapists, and the narcissist himself, this is also where equine therapy can be helpful.
Horses, being bound by physiological reactions and nonverbal behaviors, can only respond to what the narcissist feels, and not what he consciously presents. Therefore, when the grandiose person acts on his feelings of inadequacy and overcompensates through controlling or self-absorbed behavior, the undetected raising of the heart rate, shallow breathing, and elevations of epinephrine that all go with fear become palpable to the horse.
And in such a situation, the horse will do with the narcissist what they will do with any scared herd member. They will engage in protective behaviors. Circling tightly around the self-involved person, nudging them gently, and displaying concern, their behaviors literally bring the inability to protect oneself in a healthy way to life. The narcissist’s adopted compensatory mechanisms are not viewed by the horse as “safe” by the horse, because they do not cure the inadequacy and restore feelings of confidence, connection to others, and emotional safety to the overly sensitive narcissist. So, to be safe then, the grandiose person must be protected, as he is not capable of really protecting himself emotionally, and therefore, a horse perceives him as not safe alone.
Continue reading Equine Therapy: Treating Narcissism, by Claire Dorotik
Monday, October 3, 2011 — Washington, D.C. — Earlier this year, the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) was honored to announce the exclusive release of the Rolling Stones’ classic 
Gladstone, NJ and Lexington, KY – October 3, 2011 – As part of the overall USEF Dressage High Performance Program, the USEF is expanding the Dressage Developing Program, in 2012 thanks to the generous support from the USET Foundation through a gift from USET Foundation Trustee Akiko Yamazaki. The Developing Program will include seven Developing Clinics and two Developing Training Camps in 2012. Under the guidance of USEF Developing Coach Debbie McDonald, the clinics and camps aid in the development of the nation’s up-and-coming dressage horses and riders who show potential to represent the U.S. in international competition.
Lexington, KY – October 3, 2011 – The National Horse Show Association of America is pleased to announce the finalists for the 2011 ASPCA Alfred B. Maclay National Championship Finals. Attached is the list of riders who have qualified to compete in the Finals on Sunday, November 6, 2011, at the Alltech National Horse Show, 128th edition. The Championship Finals will be presented by C. M. Hadfield’s Saddlery as one of the highlight events of the Alltech National Horse Show.
The 1st-Ever Equine Business Success Summit, running October 10-14, is a brand new way to learn business strategies, tips and tactics – and I’m thrilled to have the honor of presenting in it! I’m talking about “How Recognition and Familiarity Instill Trust” on Monday October 10th at 5pm Pacific, 6pm Mountain, 7pm Central, or 8pm Eastern. This is completely FREE to listen in on – and the organizers are even posting the calls online for 48 hours afterwards!